AU2020311298A1 - A holder for retaining wire - Google Patents

Abstract

A holder for retaining wire is configured to hold and retain wire such as fencing wire when the holder is mounted on a support such as a fence post in use. The holder allows for relative movement between the wire and holder for example, when the wire is being strained. The holder has a main holder body including an aperture for receiving a wire therethrough in use. A passage extends through the holder body allowing ingress of a wire into the aperture. The holder also has a retaining arrangement for at least partly obstructing egress of the wire through the passage, in use.

Description

A HOLDER FOR RETAINING WIRE

Field of the Invention

[001 ] The present invention relates to a holder for supporting and retaining wire and in particular, to a holder that allows movement of the wire through the holder.

[002] The invention has been developed primarily for use in fencing and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention

[003] Fences erected in rural areas are configured to contain animals within a certain land area. Hence, these fences are required to be robust to withstand any forces applied, for example, by animals pushing against the fence. The fences must be able to withstand a variety of forces.

[004] When a fence is installed, fence posts are placed along the boundaries of the area to be fenced. A variety of different fence posts may be used such as wooden or metal fence posts, or star picket fences which have a Y or T shaped cross-section. Wires are positioned across the fence posts and strained using a strainer assembly to a desired tension. The wires are then attached to the fence posts.

[005] Fence posts typically have locating holes or spigots extending through the post through which wires can be attached to the fence posts. For example, when a star picket fence is used, one flange of the three flanges making up a star picket fence post will have locating holes. A short piece of wire or tie is tied to the wire adjacent the locating hole on a fence post. The body of the tie is placed through the hole in the fence post and the free end of the tie is fastened to the wire on the other side of the fence post. In this way, each fence post is attached to multiple wires spaced from each other along the length of the fence post.

[006] Over time, the wires are exposed to a variety of forces and may slacken. It is then important to strain the wire again to maintain robustness of the fence and/or to reduce the size of gaps in the fence which may be large enough for animals to escape through.

[007] In order to strain wire that is already installed on a fence, the wire ties fastened through holes or spigots provided in the fence post are undone to detach the wires from the fence posts before straining them. The wires are strained and then each wire is again attached in multiple places to each fence post using wire ties. Over large fences covering large rural areas, as is typical in farming, this is a time consuming and a labour-intensive process.

[008] Clipex® fence posts and Waratah Blue Latch Star Posts are fence posts having a recess within the fence post to hold a wire, that is retained by a clip that can be opened and closed as required. However, in the case that barbed wire is used with the length of barbs typically being larger than the recess in a Clipex® fence post or Waratah Blue Latch Star Post, this system is also time consuming and labour intensive as it requires the unclipping of each clip, straining of the wires and then clipping of each clip on the fence post.

[009] A fence holder has a recess for holding wire and an opening for receiving wire into the recess. The presently available holders for fencing wire have several deficiencies. They are not sufficiently robust and will disengage with the post or deform when forces are applied, for example, when animals push against part of a fence.

[010] They may not be configured to attach to a variety of posts including conventional wooden, conventional metal and star-picket posts. They may not be suitable to accommodate barbed wire through the recess i.e. the barbs of the barbed wire may not fit into the recess or pass smoothly through.

[01 1 ] The present invention seeks to provide a holder for wire, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[012] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention

[013] According to a first aspect, the present invention comprises a holder for retaining wire and allowing for relative movement between wire and holder, comprising:

a main holder body including an aperture for receiving a wire therethrough in use; the holder body defining a passage therethrough for allowing ingress of a wire from outside the holder body into the first aperture during installation of the wire; and

at least one retainer configured to at least partly obstruct egress of the wire through the passage, in use.

[014] The main holder body may be substantially annular in shape.

[015] The main holder body may have a cross-section that is substantially U-shaped.

[016] The main holder body may be integrally formed.

[017] The main holder body may have an outer surface. The main holder body may have an inner surface.

[018] The inner surface may define the aperture. [019] The passage may be defined by a first inner side wall and a second inner side wall.

[020] The first inner side wall may be opposed to the second inner side wall.

[021 ] The first and second inner side walls may be separated from each other by the passage.

[022] The passage extending through the main holder body may define a linear path.

[023] The passage extending through the main holder body may define a non-linear path.

[024] The passage may extend diagonally relative to a longitudinal direction of the first aperture.

[025] Each of the first inner side wall and the second inner side wall may have a first end adjacent the outer surface of the main holder body.

[026] Each of the first inner side wall and the second inner side wall may have a second end adjacent the radially inner surface of the main holder body. The passage may extend from the first ends of each of the first and second inner side walls to the second ends of each of the first and second inner side walls.

[027] The at least one retainer may comprise a pair of substantially planar protrusions extending into the aperture from the adjacent the second end of each respective sidewall. Each protrusion may extend into the aperture from adjacent the inner surface of the main holder body.

[028] The at least one retainer may comprise a hook-shaped protrusion extending substantially over the passage from one of the inner sidewalls. The hook-shaped protrusion may extend into the passage.

[029] The at least one retainer may comprise a protrusion extending from one inner side wall to adjacent the other inner side wall to define a relatively narrow mouth of the passage adjacent the aperture. The mouth may be offset from the remainder of the passage.

[030] The protrusion may be made of resiliently flexible material.

[031 ] The other inner side wall may include a recess. The protrusion may extend partially into the recess.

[032] The protrusion may be integral to the main holder body.

[033] Alternatively, the protrusion may be attached to the main holder body.

[034] The holder may further comprise an attachment formation configured for attachment to a fence post. [035] The holder may include a flange extending outwardly from the main holder body. The flange may be configured to support the body against a support, in use.

[036] The main holder body may be made of a substantially rigid material. The material may be a suitable rigid polymer or metal or composite material. In another embodiment the first material may be a resiliently flexible material.

[037] In one embodiment, the holder may be of unitary construction. In this embodiment, the holder may be made of a single material.

[038] In another embodiment, the main holder body may be injection molded. In this embodiment, the retainer may be overmolded to the main holder body.

[039] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[040] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[041 ] Fig. 1 shows a top right front perspective view of a holder in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[042] Fig. 2 shows a front view of the holder shown in figure 1 ;

[043] Fig. 3 shows a top view of the holder shown in figure 1 ;

[044] Fig. 4 shows a side view of the holder shown in figure 1 ;

[045] Fig. 5 shows a right side cutaway view of a second embodiment of a holder;

[046] Fig. 6 shows a top view of the part of the holder shown in Fig. 5;

[047] Fig. 7 shows a top view of a holder in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

[048] Fig. 8 shows a side view of the holder shown in Figure 7.

Description of Embodiments

[049] A holder 10 for retaining wire and allowing for relative movement between wire and holder, according to a first aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The holder 10 has a main holder body 1 1 . The main holder body 1 1 includes an aperture 1 1 1 that is configured to receive a wire (not shown). There is also a passage 1 12 extending through the holder body. The passage 1 12 allows ingress and egress of the wire (not shown), respectively, into and out of the aperture 1 1 1 in the main holder body 1 1 . The holder 10 further includes at least one retainer 12 located adjacent the aperture. The retainer 12 at least partly obstructs egress of the wire (not shown) through the passage 1 12.

[050] The holder 10 can be used with any time of wire such as barbed, plain or electrical wire.

[051 ] As shown in figure 1 , the main holder body 1 1 is substantially annular and toroidal about a longitudinal axis. As showing in figure 2, a substantial part of the main holder body 1 1 has a U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped cross section is configured such that the bottom of the U is located internal to the main holder body 1 1 , adjacent the aperture and the opening of the U shape is oriented outwardly of the main holder body 1 1 . An advantage of the U-shape is that less material is required to construct the main holder body 1 1 than if the main holder body 1 1 had a‘filled in’ cross-section such as a square or circular or cross-section of another shape. As less material is required when the main holder body 1 1 has a U-shaped cross- section, the holder 10 is also lightweight.

[052] Advantageously, the U-shaped design of the cross-section of the main holder body allows for injection moulding of the holder such that consistent wall thicknesses can be achieved and development of differential thermal stresses within the holder body during manufacturing is prevented.

[053] In the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 4, the main holder body 1 1 has a rounded and smooth inner surface 1 15. The inner surface 1 15 is rounded such that when barbed wire is strained, barbs attached to the wire can move through the aperture 1 11 without snagging on the inner surface.

[054] In alternative embodiments (not shown), the holder 10 may have a differently shaped inner surface 1 15 such as a substantially rectangular or a triangular or otherwise shaped inner surface.

[055] The main holder body 1 1 defines the aperture 1 1 1 . The aperture 1 1 1 extends through the main holder body 1 1 . The aperture 1 1 1 is configured to receive different types of wires. For example, the aperture 1 1 1 may be sized such that the diameter of the aperture 1 1 1 is greater than the size of an average barb on barbed wire. The shape of the inner surface 1 15 of the main holder body defines the shape of the aperture. In the illustrated embodiments, the inner surface 1 15 of the main holder body 1 1 is rounded. Therefore, the aperture 1 1 1 is circular and has a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis about which the main holder body 1 1 forms a toroidal shape.

[056] In order to allows ingress and egress of wire into the aperture 1 1 1 during installation, passage 1 12 extends through the main holder body 1 1 from its outer edge 1 13 to the aperture 1 1 1 . In this sense, the aperture 1 1 1 is contiguous with the passage 1 12. The passage 1 12 opens into the aperture 1 1 1 at a mouth 1 16.

[057] The passage 1 12 extends through the main holder body 1 1 , interrupting the toroidal shape. The passage 1 12 is located relative to the main holder body 1 1 such that, in use, when the holder 1 1 is attached to a post, the passage is not oriented parallel to the fence post. This is so that the wire does not fall out of the passage 1 12 due to gravity, in use.

[058] The passage 1 12 is defined by two inner sidewalls 1 14A, 1 14B spaced from each other. The inner sidewalls 1 14A, 1 14B are sufficiently spaced apart from each other such that standard wires of different thicknesses are able to pass through the passage 1 12.

[059] Each inner sidewall 1 14A, 1 14B has a first end 1 141 A, 1 141 B located at the outer of the main holder body and a second end 1 142A, 1 142B located near the mouth 1 16 of the aperture 1 1 1 . Thus, the passage extends from the first ends of each of the inner sidewalls 1 141 A, 1 141 B to the second ends of each of the inner sidewalls 1 141 A, 1 141 B.

[060] Each inner sidewall 1 14A, 1 14B defines an inner surface opposed to the other inner sidewall. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the inner surface of each inner sidewall 1 14A, 1 14B is not planar. In these embodiments, the passage 1 12 extending through main holder body 1 1 defines a non-linear path. In the illustrated embodiments, the inner surface of each inner sidewall 1 14A, 1 14B is curved hence, defining a non-linear, tortuous path for the wire to travel through in order to exit the passage 1 12 either during ingress or egress of the wire. Advantageously, the non-linear path reduces the likelihood of an animal successfully pushing the wire out of the aperture 1 1 1 and through the passage 1 12. The passage 1 1 1 is configured such that the non-linear path provides a greater barrier to the egress of the wire than a linear path.

[061 ] In one embodiment (not shown), the inner surface of each inner sidewall is planar. In this embodiment, the passage 1 12 extending through the main holder body 1 1 defines a linear path.

[062] As shown in the view of the holder 10 in figure 3, the passage 1 12 extends across the main holder body 1 1 , at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the aperture. The passage 1 12 also extends diagonally across the main holder body 1 1 . This reduces the likelihood of a wire egressing from holder through the passage as, in use, the wires will extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aperture.

[063] As also illustrated in figure 3, a portion of the main holder body 1 1 adjacent the passage 1 12 is enlarged. The enlarged portion contains more material than the remainder of the holder body 1 1 and so is stiffer and stronger in order to better withstand forces applied by the wire on the main holder body 1 1 near the passage for example, in case an animal pushes against the fence, tensioning the wire.

[064] The retainer 12 is configured to at least partially obstruct egress of the wire through the passage 1 12. If, for example, an animal pushes the wire such that the wire travels along the perimeter of the aperture 1 1 1 towards the mouth1 16 of the aperture, the retainer 12 provides a physical barrier for further movement of the wire into the passage 1 12 and/or out of the passage 1 12.

[065] In the illustrated embodiments, the retainer 12 comprises a pair of protrusions 121 , 122. As can be seen in figure 4, each protrusion 121 , 122 is located adjacent the bottom of each respective inner sidewall and adjacent the mouth 1 16 of the passage.

[066] Each protrusion 121 , 122 is substantially rectangular. Each protrusion 121 , 122 extends into the aperture 1 1 1 . The overall height of each protrusion 121 , 122 (or extent of protrusion into the aperture 1 1 1) is greater than the diameter of the wire. This ensures that the wire is effectively obstructed i.e. that the protrusions 121 , 122 are not easily overcome, and remains within the aperture 1 1 1 . In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the protrusions can extend at least partly into the passage. In other embodiments, it is envisaged that the protrusions can have a different shape.

[067] Each protrusion 121 ,122 has inner sidewalls, respectively, 121 1 ,1221 (not shown) adjacent the passage 1 12 and outer sidewalls, respectively, 1212 (not shown), 1222 away from the passage 1 12. In the illustrated embodiments, each protrusion 121 , 122 is configured such that outer sidewalls 1212, 1222 are longer than the inner sidewalls 121 1 , 1221 . Thus, when a wire is pushed within the holder 10 and it follows the curve of the inner surface 1 15 of the holder 1 1 to adjacent the outer sidewall 1212, 1222 of one of the protrusions 121 , 122, upon application of sufficient transverse force on the wire, the wire moves to the end of the highest protrusion and“jumps” across the mouth of the aperture 1 11 . Thus, egress of the wire through the passage 1 1 1 is prevented.

[068] The holder 10 also includes an attachment formation 140 via which the holder can be attached to a fence post. In figures 1 to 4, the attachment formation 140 includes semi-circular flanges extending away from the main holder body 1 1 . Each flange has a thickness. The two flanges can be configured to rest against a side of a fence post for example, by being sufficiently spaced from each other, in use, such that a fence post will fit snugly between the two flanges. Each flange has a bore 141 extending through the thickness of the flange. As shown in figure 4, the bore is threaded. [069] The attachment formation 140, is configured to be used with a star picket fence post having a Y or T shaped cross-section. It is envisaged that in other embodiments, other types of attachments formations can be used to secure the holder to the post.

[070] To install the holders 10 on to the fence post, a holder 10 is positioned relative to the fence post such that the threaded bores 131 of the protrusion are aligned on either side of a locating hole in a flange of the fence post. A screw can be inserted through both flanges and the locating hole in the fence post and secured with a bolt to securely fasten the holder 10 to the fence post. In alternative embodiments, fastening arrangements other than a screw and bolt can be used to secure the holder to the fence post.

[071 ] As can be seen in figures 1 to 6, the holder 10 further includes two supporting flanges 150 extending from the main holder body 1 1 . The flange 150 is substantially planar. When a holder 10 is newly installed on a post driven into the ground, each flange 150 extends parallel to the post and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the main holder body 1 1 . The holder 10, 20 can be installed on a fence post oriented such that the passage is located at the top of the holder 10,20 (the orientation shown in figures 1 ,3,5 and 6) or at the bottom of the holder 10, 20 (not shown). For either orientation, in the event that the attachment of the holder to the fence post slackens over time and the holder drops slightly or rotates about the longitudinal axis of the main holder body 1 1 , the downwardly extending flange 150 serves to prop up the holder 10 against the fence post.

[072] In other embodiments, the holder may include more than one type of retainer.

[073] A second embodiment of the holder 20 is illustrated in figures 5 and 6. Holder 20 includes two types of retainers. The holder 20 includes two types of retainers 22,23. A first retainer includes two protrusions 221 , 222 extending from the bottom of each internal side wall 214A, 214B.

[074] A second retainer comprises a hook shaped member 23 extending from the first end of the internal sidewall 2141 A. The hook shaped member 23 is defined by an inner sidewall 214A. The hook-shaped member 23 extends from the top of one ofthe inner sidewalls 2141 A, 2141 B over the passage 212.

[075] The hook-shaped member 23 includes a recess 231 . The hook-shaped member 23 is oriented such that a wire moving from the aperture 21 1 into the passage 212 will be caught within the recess 231 of the hook-shaped member 23. The hook-shaped member 23, extends substantially across the entire width ofthe mouth 216 to catch any wire that enters the passage 212. [076] In the embodiment illustrated in figures 5 and 6, the attachment formation 240 has four different holes. Each hole is placed at a different distance from the main holder body 21 to accommodate for different positions of the locating hole relative to the fence post.

[077] In the embodiment illustrated in figures 5 and 6, the attachment formation 240 also includes a tether 241 and a retaining pin 242 for connecting the holder to the fence post through a hole in the fence post.

[078] The tether 241 extends from a first end to a second end. The first end of the tether 241 is attached to one of the flanges of the attachment formation. The second end of the tether 241 is attached to the retaining pin 242. The tether 241 is relatively thin and flexible. The tether

241 conveniently holds the pin 242 near the holder 10 to prevent the pin 242 being lost.

[079] The retaining pin 242 is substantially cylindrical. The retaining pin 242 has a body 2422 and a head 2421 that is tapered to a tip and split into two parts. The retaining pin 242 also has an enlarged end 2423 which has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the body 2422 and the diameter of each hole 245 in the attachment formation 240. The tip of the head 2421 has a diameter smaller than that of the diameters of the holes 245 of the attachment formation 240 and the locating hole in the fence post (not shown). The head 2421 of the retaining pin is also enlarged (has a greater cross-sectional diameter) relative to body 2422 of the retaining pin 242. Thus, a lip is formed between the head of the pin 2421 and the body 2422 of the pin.

[080] In use, the holes 245 in each flange of the attachment formation 240 are aligned with the locating hole (not shown) in the fence post. When the head of the pin 242 (tip first) is inserted into the three aligned holes, the two pieces of the head 242 come closer together and the head effectively contracts as it travels through the holes. When the head 2421 of the pin

242 has traversed the three holes, it expands to a diameter greater than the diameter of the holes. The lip of the head 2421 abuts the area around the hole such that the pin 242 cannot be pulled through the hole. The enlarged end 2423 also prevents the pin 242 from slipping out. The fence is subject to vibration effected during straining of the wires and other forces e.g. forces applied by animals against the fence. Over time, these forces can cause a threaded pin to come loose from the nut detaching the holder 10, 20 from the fence post. The retaining pin shown in figures 5 and 6 will not cause the holder to come loose as the lip of the head 2421 and the enlarged end 2423 will prevent the pin from exiting the three holes.

[081 ] The attachment formation 140, 240 can be adapted for attachment of the holder to different types of fence posts such as wooden, metal (including star picket and posts with a T- shaped cross-section). The attachment formation 140, 240 can be configured to accommodate a variety of different attachment formations in a single holder 10 to suit different types of commercially available fence posts. [082] It is envisaged that a number of different types of attachment formations can be used for attachment of the holder to the fence post.

[083] A third embodiment is shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this embodiment, inner sidewalls 314A and 314B which define the passage 312, taper inwardly from the first ends of each of the inner sidewalls 3141 A, 3141 B to the second ends of each of the inner sidewalls 3142A, 3142B. Hence, the passage 312 is wider at the first ends of each of the inner sidewalls 3141 A, 3141 B than at the second ends of the inner sidewalls 3142A, 3142B.

[084] The side view of the passage 312 as shown in Figure 8 is substantially Y shaped.

[085] The retainer 32 is a protrusion 321 extending from one inner sidewall 314A to adjacent the opposed inner sidewall 314B. In this embodiment, the retainer is positioned adjacent the bottom of the opposed inner side wall 314B.

[086] As shown in Figure 7, there is a recess 322 in the second end of the second inner side wall 314B. The recess extends between the second inner side wall 314B at the second end of that side wall, and the inner surface of the inner side wall.

[087] Part of the protrusion 321 is located within the recess 322, thus defining a relatively narrow mouth of the passage 316 in a lateral or circumferential direction (as the main holder body is annular) to the direction of the aperture. The recess and protrusion together also provide a tortuous path along the longitudinal direction which significantly reduces the probability of a wire entering the passage 312 from inside the aperture 31 1 when the wire is pushed against the mouth of the passage 316 as a result of applied external forces, in use.

[088] The shape and size of the recess 322 and protrusion 321 are configured to allow a wire to enter the aperture 31 1 . A user can insert a wire into the aperture 31 1 by flexing or otherwise manipulating the wire through the passage 312.

[089] As can be seen in Figure 8, the mouth 316 is also substantially laterally or circumferentially offset from the remainder of the passage. This also makes it relatively more difficult for the wire to egress from inside the aperture 31 1 into the passage and out of the holder 30 as the wire has to traverse a relatively complicated path to exit the holder. It is highly unlikely that external forces exerted on the wire by anyone or anything other than a person will result in the wire egressing the passage 312 of holder 30.

[090] The embodiment shown in figures 7 and 8 also includes a wire guide 360 for inserting a wire into the aperture 31 1 . The wire guide 360 is substantially planar and extends like a ridge, between the support flange 350 to approximately halfway along the length of the passage 312 through the main holder body 31 . The wire guide 360 is centrally located along the width of the passage. [091 ] The wire guide 360 has a smooth outer surface 361 which protrudes beyond the main holder body 31 as shown in Figure 7, such that the wire contacts and is guided along or follows the smooth wire surface into the aperture 31 1 to insert the wire into the aperture.

[092] In another embodiment (not shown), the retainer may be a flexible tongue that extends from the end of one inner sidewall to adjacent the other inner sidewall. The flexible tongue (not shown) may be substantially rectangular. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible tongue (not shown) may be biased such that it stiffens or provides resistance to bending when the wire is pushed against the flexible tongue (not shown) in one direction, than when it is pushed in the opposed direction. In this embodiment, the flexible tongue (not shown) may extend anywhere between the two inner sidewalls of the main holder body. When a wire is pushed into the passage from outside the holder 10, the resiliently flexible tongue flexes inwardly into the aperture to allow the wire into the aperture. However, when a wire within the aperture is pushed towards the passage, the resiliently flexible flap abuts against the bottom of the other inner sidewall and prevents the wire from moving into the passage.

[093] In an embodiment, the holder of any of the illustrated embodiments can be made of a suitable rigid material such as a rigid plastic or metal or a composite. For example, the holder can be made of a number of different sufficiently tough and rigid materials. In another example, the holder can be made of aluminium which is both lightweight and strong.

[094] It is envisaged that the main holder body can be made of a variety of suitable materials. The main holder body can be made of a different material to the other parts of the holder e.g. the retainer. In an embodiment the holder may be made via one manufacturing process such as injection molding while the retainer is made via another manufacturing process such as overmolding.

[095] For example, the retainer may be made of rubber, plastic, metal or any other suitable flexible or resilient material.

[096] The holder 10 can be of unitary construction via a process such as injection molding.

[097] In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, for example, the main holder body 21 , the tether 241 and the retaining pin 242 can be of unitary construction and made of the same material. The main holder body 1 1 , tether 241 and retaining pin 242 can be made in the same manufacturing process e.g. via a standard injection moulding process or via a multi-step process such as over-moulding. In another embodiment, the main holder body 21 , tether 241 and retaining pin 242 could be made from different materials such as a metal or a plastic.

[098] An advantage of making the entire holder out of plastic or other electrically insulating material is that the holders will be suitable for holding electrical wire. [099] Use of holders 10, 20, 30 will now be described in relation to installation of a fence and straining of barbed fence wires after installation of a barbed-wire fence. To install a fence, end posts and intermediate posts are installed at the desired intervals along a projected length of a fence. A plurality of holders 10, 20, 30 are attached to each fence post at regular intervals along each fence post via the attachment formation 140, 240, 340 of each holder 10, 20, 30 as previously described. The number of holders 10, 20, 30 per fence post depends on the number of wires crossing each fence post. After pre-tensioning, a barbed wire is pushed into the passage 1 12, 212, 312 and then into the aperture 1 1 1 , 21 1 , 31 1 of the holder 10, 20, 30.

[100] To strain the barbed wire, a strainer is attached to an end post and also, to a wire to be strained. The strainer is operated to strain the wire. As the barbed wire is tensioned, it moves through the apertures 1 1 1 , 21 1 , 31 1 of the respective main holder bodies 1 1 , 21 , 31 .

[101 ] Advantageously, the user does not have to remove each wire from each installed holder 10, 20, 30 in order to strain the fence wires. Use of the holders 10, 20, 30 described in this specification in installing a fence allows easy and time efficient straining of fence wire after a fence has been installed.

[102] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word“comprise” or variations such as“comprises” or“comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[103] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Interpretation

Embodiments :

[104] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or“an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases“in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. [105] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[106] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[107] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives“first”, “second”,“third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

[108] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

[109] For the purposes of this specification, the term“plastic” shall be construed to mean a general term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products, and generally consisting of a hydrocarbon-based polymer.

[1 10] As used herein the term“and/or” means“and” or“or”, or both.

[1 1 1 ] As used herein“(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

Scope of Invention

[1 12] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[1 13] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (20)

Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1 . A holder for retaining wire and allowing for relative movement between wire and

holder, comprising:

a main holder body including an aperture for receiving a wire therethrough, in use; the holder body defining a passage therethrough for allowing ingress of a wire from outside the holder body into the first aperture; and

at least one retainer configured to at least partly obstruct egress of the wire through the passage, in use.

2. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the passage is defined by a first inner side wall and a second inner side wall, the first inner side wall being opposed to and separated from the second inner side wall by the passage.

3. The holder of claim 2 wherein each inner sidewall extends from a first end to an opposed second end adjacent the aperture.

4. The holder of claim 3, wherein the at least one retainer comprises a pair of

protrusions, each protrusion located adjacent each respective sidewall and extending into the aperture.

5. The holder of claim 4, where in each protrusion extends at an angle to an inner

surface of the main holder body.

6. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer comprises a hook-shaped protrusion extending into and substantially over the passage from one of the inner sidewalls.

7. The holder of claim 6, wherein the hook-shaped protrusion extends from the first end of one of the two inner sidewalls.

8. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retainer comprises a protrusion extending from one inner side wall to adjacent the other inner side wall to define a relatively narrow mouth of the passage adjacent the aperture.

9. The holder of claim 8, further comprising a recess at the end of the other inner sidewall and wherein, the protrusion extends into the recess.

10. The holder of claim 8, wherein the mouth of the passage is offset from the remainder of the passage.

1 1 . The holder of claim 8, where in the protrusion is resiliently flexible.

12. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the passage is wider at the first ends of each inner sidewall than at the second ends of each inner sidewall.

13. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the passage extending through the main holder body defines a linear path.

14. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the passage extending through the main holder body defines a non-linear path.

15. The holder of claim 14, wherein the passage extends at an angle to a longitudinal direction of the aperture.

16. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the main holder body is substantially annular.

17. The holder of claim 1 , further comprising at least one flange extending outwardly from the main holder body, the flange configured to support the body against a support, in use.

18. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the holder is integrally formed.

19. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is overmolded over the main holder body.

20. The holder of claim 1 , further comprising a wire guide for inserting a wire into the aperture.